Real Madrid has faced difficulties in Europe this season, losing three out of their five matches before their game in Italy on Tuesday. As a result, they needed a win in order to increase their chances of advancing to the knockout stage, which they achieved with a confidence-boosting performance.
French player Mbappe started the scoring with a goal in the 10th minute, breaking free from his defender and scoring smartly. This marked his 12th goal since joining Real in the summer, and he could have scored a second in the first half when he made a run through the middle, but his shot from outside the box was saved.
However, the visiting team suffered a setback nine minutes before half time when Mbappe appeared to sustain an injury. Although he was able to leave the pitch on his own, he was substituted for Rodrygo. Atalanta then equalised just before half time with a penalty from Charles De Ketelaere, after Sead Kolasinac was brought down in the box.
Real fought back in the second half with Vinicius Jr finding the bottom corner with a well-placed shot in his return from a hamstring injury, and Bellingham scoring his first Champions League goal of the season.
Ademola Lookman gave Atalanta hope with his 11th goal of the season, scoring with a shot at the near post, but Real held off late pressure to secure three crucial points.
The win pushed Real up to 18th place in the league of 36 teams, and they are now three points away from the top eight, who automatically qualify for the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Atalanta is in ninth place with 11 points.
It was an important victory for Real, but there are concerns over Mbappe’s injury. The forward received treatment after sustaining an injury and had to be substituted. Mbappe has not been able to replicate the success he had at Paris St-Germain since joining Real in the summer, but he showed his talent in this game.
He has scored 50 goals in 79 appearances in the Champions League, making him the second-youngest player (25 years and 356 days) to reach this milestone in the competition, after Lionel Messi in 2012 (24 years and 284 days). His performance made his injury even more worrying, although Real fans will be relieved that he was able to leave the pitch on his own. They will be hoping that he does not join the list of injured players, which already includes Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga. According to Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, “Mbappe is feeling some discomfort in his hamstrings. It doesn’t seem serious, but we will assess the situation tomorrow.”
